USC FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: Former defensive lineman Armstead suing school

Former USC defensive tackle Armond Armstead filed a lawsuit against the university Thursday, claiming team doctors administered painkillers that caused him to suffer a heart attack and hurt his NFL career.

Armstead did not play last season because he was never cleared by doctors for an undisclosed medical condition. He always said he was fine and decided to enter last spring's NFL draft.

Armstead went undrafted and signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.

"It would be inappropriate at this time for USC to make a comment about the lawsuit," the university said in a prepared statement. The Argonauts said Armstead declined comment.

The lawsuit said Armstead, 22, was injected with the painkiller Toradol after he complained about chest pains during workouts in February 2011. The following month, doctors at USC University Hospital, which is not named in the lawsuit, said Armstead suffered a heart attack.

The lawsuit said the painkillers "were a substantial factor in causing the myocardial infarction."

The drug is used to relieve moderately severe pain and stops the body's production of a substance that causes pain, fever, and inflammation. The lawsuit does not list a specific dollar figure for damages.

Besides USC, the lawsuit named an unidentified pharmaceutical company, team doctor James Tibone and the University Park Health Center as defendants.

All is forgiven

New Hawaii coach Norm Chow and USC coach Lane Kiffin enjoy a professional relationship today, which is far different than when both were USC assistants.

When former USC coach Pete Carroll was told in 2005 that Chow and Kiffin did not speak to each other, he said, "it's been like that for four years."

Both coaches glossed over that fact this week.

"I see Lane all the time, we both live in Manhattan Beach," Chow said.

On Vehikite

Kiffin said linebacker Simione Vehikite was on scholarship and officially back on the team after serving about three months in jail after pleading no contest to two felony counts: Leaving the scene of a car accident and driving with an .08 percent blood-alcohol level-causing injury.

"He has been through a lot," Kiffin said. "While he was not with us, he had a great semester last spring, passed 20 units and is very close to graduating."

Rogers' wait

The NCAA continues to review the core classes of wide receiver Darreus Rogers' high school transcripts and he is not cleared.

No big deal

Chow, who faced Kiffin the past three years while an assistant at UCLA and Utah, said he would not deliver an emotional pregame speech.

"I've always thought pregame talks were the most exaggerated talks in the world," Chow said. "If they're not ready by then, they probably won't be. My pregame talk will say, 'Does anybody have to go the restroom?'"